rest on/upon

phrasal verb

rested on/upon; resting on/upon; rests on/upon
1
: to depend or rely on (someone or something)
All our hopes rested on one man.
2
: to stop moving and look at (someone or something)
His eyes/gaze rested on the letter.
3
: to be based on (something)
His theory rested upon two important pieces of evidence.

Examples of rest on/upon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Allow the bacon to rest on the wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes before attempting to touch or eat it. Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2025 Patriotism shouldn't rest on fear or historical amnesia. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 July 2025 To the father of a 4-year-old girl, the lives of his clients and the futures of their families rest on his shoulders. Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 2 July 2025 Both assumptions, meanwhile, rest on an excessively narrow reading of battlefield dynamics and a limited understanding of the policy options available to Ukraine’s backers. Michael Carpenter, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rest on/upon

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Cite this Entry

“Rest on/upon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rest%20on%2Fupon. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

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